May 2024
Before Mason even opened his eyes, he felt a sharp, pounding pain in his head. It throbbed and drilled into his skull. He rubbed his forehead and cracked open his eyelids, feeling like he was still dreaming. Or maybe it was a nightmare?
He didn't recognize the place. He had no idea where he was.
A wave of nausea hit him as he sat up. He looked around the room. Patterned wallpaper, like something from a bygone era. On the dresser sat an old TV, the kind you'd see in 90s movies. Everything looked frozen in time.
Despite the headache, he got out of bed and looked at himself in the mirror. Dark, messy hair. A dirty white shirt. Black pants with metal chains. He didn't look like someone who'd just come back from a party.
That was his last memory — a party. Crowds of people, friends, familiar faces. And then... nothing.
He walked to the door and pushed the handle. The hallway seemed like it belonged in a forgotten hotel: narrow, green walls, a faded carpet. He tried every door down the hall. All locked. Why was only his room open?
Were they kidnapped?
Suddenly, a loud bang echoed. A lightbulb flickered at the end of the hallway. Mason froze. A silhouette appeared in the dim light.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice trembling.
No answer. The figure kept moving.
He bolted. Down the stairs. His heart was pounding like crazy. He had no clue where he was or what the hell had happened.
On the first floor, he spotted a reception desk. Empty. Lifeless. The computers looked like museum pieces. Everything here was old. Abandoned.
A loud slam. He turned around, flinching. Something was seriously wrong.
He ran through the front entrance. Then stopped.
The hotel stood on a hill surrounded by forest. There was only one path leading down toward a beach. Beyond that — just the ocean.
Was this some kind of island?
He couldn't remember anything. Like someone had wiped his mind clean. What could be worse than waking up in a place like this with no memory?
He took off running down the path through the forest. His breathing was ragged, his panic rising. He had the sinking feeling someone was watching him.
He burst out onto the beach and collapsed onto the sand.
"Mason!"
He turned. Betty was running toward him, holding Noah's hand. Relief flooded his chest. His little brother was alive. Safe.
"What are we doing here?" Noah asked. "What is this place? We don't remember anything."
"The last thing I remember was your party," Betty added. "Maybe someone's pulling a prank on us?"
"The question is — are we alone here?" Mason muttered.
Betty stepped away, calling out. A shout answered her. The three of them ran toward the ocean. Three people lay by the water: Jennifer, pale as a ghost, Jake, and Will — the latter looking slightly more coherent.
"What the... where are we?" Jake asked, rubbing his temples.
Jennifer trembled, clinging to his arm.
"Is this some kind of deserted island?"
"There's no yacht, nothing," Jake muttered. "How did we even get here?"
"Strange that none of us remembers anything," Noah pointed out.
"You think this is some kind of joke?" Betty asked.
"Not a very funny one," Will replied. "Feels more like a trap. Like someone brought us here on purpose... or worse."
"Your jokes are awful," Mason snapped. "With that attitude, you'll never make it as a journalist."
Noah might've laughed, if the situation weren't so serious.
They all checked their phones. No signal. No connection to the outside world.
"This is all because of those damn drugs and alcohol," Betty growled, sitting on the sand. "You think someone's going to find us? I don't want to die here. I have fans. People love me."
"You sound like you're still high," Mason muttered. But the fact that he wasn't alone gave him a little comfort.
"Let's try to think. How did we end up here...?"
"You've got the most enemies," Jake said to Mason. "And since we hang with you, people don't like us either."
"Oh please — you two run a gossip site. It's no wonder people hate you," Mason shot back. "We've all done some shit. Betty's a self-obsessed influencer. Girls only hang out with her for clout."
Betty scoffed, eyeing the chipped polish on her nails.
"Noah's the only clean one," Mason added with a faint smile.
"No," the blond boy said. "I've got my demons. I'm not here accidentally."
Silence fell. They looked at one another, trying to piece together their thoughts. None of them realized yet that this place might be their new home.
Or their prison.
Because this place wasn't abandoned for no reason.
It was hiding something dark.
September 2023
Being popular in high school or college was the dream of many. Mason and Noah had it in their DNA. Wealthy, good-looking, charismatic — always surrounded by the elite. Mason had zero tolerance for mediocrity. Noah was more open-minded, but loyalty to his brother always came first.
Their crew had decided to start a theater club. They wanted to shoot a film based on a real story Jake and Will — two student journalists — had uncovered. It was meant to be revenge. A secret message for those who had crossed them.
They had only two actors: Noah and Jennifer. They needed a third. One guy stood out at the audition, but Mason immediately crossed him out. He came from a poor family. No "screen presence."
"Let's give him a chance. He just has to act," Noah insisted.
"He's handsome, looks great on camera," Jennifer added. "A born actor."
"What, you already like him?" Jake asked, jealousy creeping into his voice.
"And why do you care?" Jennifer snapped back.
"He's into you. Just won't admit it," Will said flatly. Jake and Jennifer both turned red.
"Speak for yourself if you're the one crushing on her," Jake muttered.
"'Crushing'? Seriously?" Betty snorted.
"Almost as dumb as 'into someone,'" Jake countered.
"Noah?" Betty looked at him with a smile. "I'm crushing on you."
Noah smiled back, but it was the smile of someone deeply uncomfortable. He liked her, but only as a friend. She refused to accept that. For her, "no" wasn't in the dictionary.
He was too kind to say it outright. And so it went on. And on.
"Fine," Mason said, shutting his laptop. "Daniel can try."
Surprise. Even Noah looked taken aback.
"I'm proud of you, bro," he said, placing his hands on Mason's shoulders. "We can finally start filming."
"Easy," Will cut in. "Nancy still has to finish the script. She's not even here yet."
"I want everything to go smoothly. It has to be ready by Halloween," Mason said. "People will go crazy when they see: Based on a true story." He grinned wickedly.
"One day, someone's going to get you back," Noah muttered.
Mason locked eyes with him.
"No one's got the guts."